Bikeability - Cycling Proficiency for the 21st Century

News

Happy Birthday Bikeability!

Posted on March 26, 2012

Five years since its launch, Bikeability continues to grow and is gradually supplanting Cycling Proficiency – which it replaced – in the public consciousness. Over 750,000 children in England have been trained to Level 2 Bikeability.

The number trained each year continues to grow, and, to accommodate this increase, training is now a year-round activity in many places rather than the summer term activity it used to be. Approximately 500,000 children leave primary school every year and over half of them are now being trained to ride on the road.

The impact of cycle training is that children are far more likely to cycle to their friend’s houses, the shops and to school. Increasing numbers of primary schools offer the training to Year 5s so that children can cycle to school in their last year, but cycling to secondary schools is more likely to benefit.

From now on, thanks to a loosening of the grant rules by the Department for Transport, more children will also go on to take Bikeability Level 3, which equips them for the busier roads and more complicated junctions they are likely to encounter on their way to and from secondary school.

There are over 350 cycle training schemes registered to deliver Bikeability and more than 6,000 people have trained as instructors. This large group of people and organisations spans Local Authorities, School Games Organiser Host Schools, private companies and charities.

On its 5th birthday, Bikeability is in good health and growing strongly. It continues to grow and develop in the hope that the next generation of bike riders will ride their bikes – safely – for pleasure, for fitness, for getting about and for fun for the rest of their lives.